Special forces troops died capturing Taliban chiefs

Two special forces troops killed near Sangin in southern Afghanistan had captured two Taliban commanders after an intelligence tip-off, it emerged yesterday. The men from the Special Boat Service (SBS) were killed, and another seriously injured, in a gun battle which left 30 Taliban dead, according to defence sources.

Brigadier Ed Butler, commander of British forces in the country, described the commanders as "high-value targets ... Just as they were taken prisoner, Taliban fighters opened fire". The SBS troops will not be named by the MoD at the request of their families.